We're still with Suze in this chapter, and a few things happen. One of them is we get to meet her adversary, 'the other woman'.

Special thanks to Lolly for her creative suggestions for Suze's nickname for Jesse! (I like the phone booth one, hehe). And also thanks to Steph for her help with names of places.

Read and review!

And remember, strawberries are great.

Suze

I arrived at the office 15 minutes late.

Luckily my boss wasn't there to see me punch in my card, but to be honest I didn't think he would mind much. This was the first time that I've come in late this year and besides, I'm a good worker. I haven't even used up my holidays.

Well, at least my hair and makeup were perfect. When you're meeting your clients, at the end of the day that's all that matters.

I was making my way to my desk when Oliver, one of my co-workers called out to me.

"Hey, Oliver," I greeted him.

"Hello Suze. Here's the file from the Grant case, Fiona said you were looking for it. She just left to go to the courts, and asked me to give it to you." He handed me the file.

I smiled at Oliver and said, "Thanks."

Then I continued my way to my desk. As I sat down and placed my handbag on the floor, I sensed Oliver still looking at me. I looked at him and smiled, and he smiled back, but then immediately looked down to his desk and started shuffling some papers.

I used to feel uncomfortable about his obvious crush on me, but now I just think it was cute. Especially since he doesn't have the guts to ask me out yet. But it wasn't that I want to anyway, I didn't think it would be a good feeling to have to turn him down.

Opening the file, I started reading it before I realized that I needed my daily dose of caffeine. I grabbed my mug and walked down the hallway to the staff's kitchen, greeting some of my co-workers who were there. I walked up to the coffee machine and poured the coffee. Then I walked to the cabinet and took out the packets of sugar.

For some reason, my mind wandered back to Oliver. I wondered whether I would be more receptive to him if Jesse and I weren't together. To be honest, Oliver is a pretty decent guy. He's kind, cute in this boyish kinda way and cares about the people that he deals with in his job. I realized that he has to, considering that he works with troubled kids most of the time and I admired that quality in him. Not many men are willing to be in a job that emphasizes on people's welfare rather than on money.

Which is why I'm glad that my man is a doctor, and fits the aforementioned description.

Thinking about Jesse made me feel a little uncomfortable though, remembering the incident at his place this morning, and so I pushed them away.

After I got my coffee, I walked back to my desk and started to rifle through the files for my cases. Not 5 minutes after that, the phone rang and I answered.

"Don't forget our date today!" It was CeeCee.

"Hey Cee. What date?" I cradled the phone and reached for my pen while holding the file open at the same time.

I heard her sigh through the line. "Our lunch date where you're also going for the dress fitting appointment."

The phone almost slipped. Oh. Yeah. Darn, how the heck could I have forgotten that? "Of course! I was just kidding, of course I remember!"

She didn't believe me anymore than I believed myself. "Sure, Suze. I don't care what you say, you're not escaping this time."

"I wasn't trying to escape," I defended myself. "I was just busy with the Levington case, which for your information, has been settled in our favor. And I would love to go to the dress fitting thing."

"Good. So you can't say you've forgotten about it this time like you did at the last appointment," she continued.

I grimaced inwardly at the unpleasant memory. I had totally forgotten about our appointment last week when the court schedule for my appearance was changed at the last minute, and so Cee was left stranded trying to explain to the tailor about my absence.

"I won't forget this time. Don't worry, I'll be at the shop even before you get there!" I tried to reassure her.

I heard her sigh again, but she didn't sound as annoyed as before. "Fine. 1.30 at Frells' okay?."

"Duly noted," I wrote the time and place in capital letters on my notepad.

There was a pause, then Cee's excited voice rang out, "I can't wait until you see the dress! It's so pretty, I think it's even prettier than mine."

"Well, I sure hope so, don't want you to take away my spotlight," I joked. Then I said more seriously, "Cee, there's no way my dress could be prettier than yours. I've seen it, remember, and it's gorgeous."

She giggled, sounding quite un-CeeCee. "I know! I can't wait until he sees it…"

"In due time, my friend. In due time," I laughed, then realized that some of my colleagues were looking at me. I quickly said goodbye to Cee and we hung up.

My mood improved tremendously after that. Sure, I was doing something that I wasn't particularly fond of but Cee was my best friend and if she wanted me to be her maid-of-honour on her wedding day, I wasn't going to object.

- 0 - 0 - 0 -

At 1.15 I sorted my files and documents into their piles before heading out for the appointment. I bumped into Fiona who asked if I received the file she left behind, and I told her that I did.

"Oliver was very happy when I gave him the file because he had an excuse to talk to you," she teased me.

"Oh shush, I'm sure he wasn't," I said, unfortunately starting to blush. Fiona noticed it and chose to tease me even further.

"Really, I don't know what's wrong with you. He's a great guy, and he obviously likes you. You're both single and available, there's nothing wrong with getting to know each other as more than friends," she went on.

See, that was the problem. I wasn't single, but neither Fiona nor Oliver nor anyone else in my office knew that. And it wasn't something I could just say to them, for all I know one of them is a friend of the De Silva's and then next thing I know it'll be goodbye to Jesse. Again. So I had to come up with another excuse for the reason why I couldn't go out with Oliver.

Shaking my head, I continued walking down the hallway towards the lifts. "We've gone through this, Fi and like I've said before, I'm not into office relationships. It has so much potential to backfire and then I'm going to be the one who's screwed. Not you."

She was still standing in the middle of the hallway but she held up her hands in surrender. "Fine, fine. No office romance. Such a shame, I think you two would make such a cute couple."

I punched the button to the lift and turned to look at her. "If you think he's so great, why don't you date him?

She snickered and pointed at her ring finger on her left hand. "See this rock here? I happen to like where it is now. I'd like to keep it, along with the man who gave it to me, in case you were wondering."

I rolled my eyes and said boredly, "I wasn't." Then I smiled at her as the lift opened and we waved goodbye.

I wondered what kind of engagement ring would Jesse choose for me, then admonished myself for thinking of that. It wasn't like I was anticipating marriage and kids, but seeing all my friends having one feet on the altar sometimes made me question my own relationship.

Never mind, I told myself. One step at a time.

- 0 - 0 - 0 -

I arrived at the shop at 1.40 after wasting about 5 minutes driving around looking for a parking space. The door jingled as I opened it, and I was immediately greeted by a waft of flowery scent and rows of wedding dresses.

A pleasant-looking woman in a well-cut outfit and expertly applied makeup walked over to me as I entered the shop. "Can I help you, miss? Looking for a dress for your special day?"

Before I could reply in the negative, Cee Cee walked out from the backroom. "Suze! Thank God you're here, I thought I had to explain your absence again."

I grinned and gave her a hug as she reached my side. "Of course not, I told you I would be here."

"Thanks, Eleanor, we'll just go to the fitting now." Cee said to the woman. "I'm sure you remember Suze?"

"Oh yes, I'm sorry I didn't recognize you," Eleanor said apologetically and I realized that I didn't recognize her either; from the last time I came to the shop to help Cee pick her dress. So I told Eleanor it was okay and followed Cee to the backroom.

The tailor I did recognize, an enthusiastic woman by the name of Annette. She was fixing a pastel blue dress onto a mannequin, and looked up as I walked in.

"Suze, how nice to see you again!" She came over and shook my hand.

"I'm sorry about the last appointment, I was –" I tried to explain, but she cut me off.

"Forget about it, what matters is that you're here." Then she bustled to a bundle of sheets that were draped across a large table. "Let me show you a sample of the dress you'll be wearing."

"It's pretty, I'm telling you," Cee grinned at me, looking excited. I had to admit, her excitement was rubbing off on me and I could feel myself impatiently waiting for Annette to show me the dress.

Finally she pulled up the dress from the pile of sheets and held it up for me to see. For a moment I couldn't speak.

The dress was made of a satiny material, coral-coloured, looking soft and sleek under the room lights. It had off-the-shoulders straps, and the back flowed down beautifully with a little fishtail hem.

When I could finally speak, I said quietly, "It's not pretty." I could hear Annette gasp but I continued on, "It's beautiful!"

Both of them laughed, Annette looking relieved and Cee exclaiming, "Didn't I tell you?"

I laughed too, then turned to Cee Cee. "Cee, you must let me pay for it. I can't let you pay for that dress if I'm going to wear it. You've already have to pay for all the expenses –"

Cee was having none of it. "It's my wedding, and if I say I'm paying for it then I'm paying for it. Besides, when did the maid-of-honour ever have to pay for her dress?"

I wanted to protest some more, but Annette came over and dragged me to the changing room. "You can leave your clothes there, Suze, while we're doing the fitting."

So I took off my clothes save for my undergarments and walked back out to the room where Annette immediately covered me with the soft satiny material for the dress. It was SO soft, like water. I don't think I could ever wear it again after Cee's wedding, unless by any chance I'm invited to the Oscars or something.

Cee and I talked about our jobs while Annette stuck pins and all that onto the cloth. Then she said she was going to get more pins and walked out of the room to her office.

Seeing that we were alone, Cee seized her chance. "So are you bringing Jesse?"

Cee was the only person to know about Jesse and I – other than Dylan, apparently – because she saw with her own eyes the two of us making up at her office party a couple of months back. She was happy about it, but no so happy about us keeping it a secret.

I hesitated, not really sure of the answer myself. "I'm not sure."

"But he's your boyfriend! Wouldn't he be offended if you didn't invite him?"

I sighed, suddenly wishing I could sit down. But Annette specifically told me not to move and so I had to stand there like a statue even though my feet were starting to ache.

"I know. But…you know how things are. We're still in hiding, so to say, and going to your wedding will be like announcing our relationship to the whole of San Francisco."

"His parents still not relenting?" Cee asked sympathetically.

"We haven't really spoken about it…" I admitted reluctantly. Then I told her about what happened this morning. Cee became even more sympathetic, and I almost wished I didn't tell her. The least I wanted to do was make her worry, as she already has to worry about her wedding.

We sat – well, Cee sat, and I stood - quietly for a while, before Cee said in a reassuring tone, "The wedding is a month away By the time it arrives, maybe his parents would have changed their minds. Anything could happen between now and then."

I wished I could say I believed her, but I didn't. Deep in my heart I couldn't believe that what she said could actually be true. But I didn't want to worry her, so I nodded my head in agreement.

After the fitting session, Cee and I went to have lunch at one of the Italian restaurants near the shop. We talked about the upcoming wedding, and Cee told me that everything was going as planned but it still didn't lessen her nerves.

"Adam doesn't even look like he's going to get married soon! He still go off with his friends and hang out at the video games store," she complained.

"But doesn't he work there?" I asked, confused.

She rolled her eyes. "Yeah, but he doesn't have to be there as much as he does. Besides, that's not the point. The point is he should be worrying about the wedding as much as I am."

I laughed a little. "Cee, he's the manager. Of course he has to be there more than his employees. And I'm sure he worries just as much as you, but he's a guy. I think it's the Man-Code to not let anyone know that you're worried – a macho thing."

She sighed. "I'm sure you're right." Then she cracked a smile, and I knew she was okay.

- 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 -

After lunch I went back to the office and did my paperwork for the current cases that I'm handling. This was the part of my job that I dislike the most, to be honest. I would rather go out there and meet the kids and start looking for places for them to stay – something practical. But I know that without the necessary paperwork nothing could be done.

At about 5.30 I decided I've had enough work done, and started to pack up. It was then that I suddenly became aware of Oliver standing right in front of my desk. I looked up, startled.

"Hi Suze," he said cheerfully.

"Hi Oliver," I replied, feeling a little weirded out.

"So…you're heading back home?"

I nodded. "Yeah. You too?"

"Well…" he hesitated. I stopped putting my files in my bag and looked at him. He looked nervous.

Aw, CRAP. I think I know what's coming.

"I was wondering if you have any plans for tonight? I was thinking maybe we could go…and have dinner? My treat," he finally said, smiling his cute smile, although nervously.

I smiled kindly at him (or so I tell myself) while at the same time trying to think of the nicest way to turn him down. I knew that if I said I was busy that night, he'll try to invite me some other time, and it was like giving him false hope. I didn't think it was right.

The best way I could do was to come out clean and say…that I wasn't interested? He's going to think that he's not a great guy even though he is. Office romance no-no? Kinda lame, if I think of other people who have actually made it work. So I think I had to tell him the truth.

"Oliver, I'm really sorry but…I'm actually seeing someone right now," I said quietly to him, while trying to continue smiling kindly (I don't even know if that actually works. Once I tried that smile with Fiona and she said I looked like I was planning something evil in my head. Which I was not).

His face fell – not literally, duh – and he stammered for something to say. Darn, I feel really, REALLY bad for him. I almost wish I could hook him up with some of my friends, but Cee is unavailable and Gina is in NY and she's not into long-distance relationship as far as I know.

"That's…that's alright then. I'm sorry for asking, that was silly of me. Of course you're seeing someone…"he trailed off, looking very embarrassed now.

"No, no, that wasn't silly. That was actually very sweet," I told him and I meant every word. "Maybe we can go out as friends some other time? With the others?"

He nodded quickly, looking like he wanted to bolt out of there as fast as he could. I didn't really blame him. "Sure, we could do that. I'm sorry again. It was just…Fiona said you weren't seeing anyone and I never see you with anyone – never mind. I shouldn't have assumed."

That Fiona! I should have known. "Oh. Well, he's working outstation, that's why no one ever get to see him," I lied.

"Nope, you don't have to explain. It was entirely my fault. I should be going now…have a nice weekend, Suze," he smiled shortly, then hurriedly walked away without waiting for my answer.

I stared after him until he disappeared down the hall to the lifts. Then I slowly continued to pack my stuff, allowing enough time for him to go down the lift and wallow in his misery. Poor guy. I know what it was like to be rejected, believe me.

I should have a word with that Fiona girl. Fancy going around telling guys to ask me out! So what if she thinks I'm single? She shouldn't have done that.

Sighing, I picked up my bag and walked out into the hall. While waiting for the lift, I had to admit that it wasn't her fault. She was only doing what she thought was best – hooking up two of her friends. It wasn't like she KNEW that I had Jesse.

But after this, there's a mighty good chance that she will, if Oliver thought it was fit to go after her for making him ask me out. She'll probably kill me for not telling her that I had a boyfriend.

I probably deserve it anyway.

- 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 -

As I was driving back, I realized that I needed to buy some groceries. My fridge badly needed to be stocked. So I pulled over at the huge supermarket , Safeway, just a few blocks away from my apartment.

The coolness of the store was very calming. I picked up a basket and made my way to the dairy section.

I was looking at the cheese selection when I heard a familiar voice. I was about to turn and look at the source of the voice when I suddenly remembered whom it belonged to, and my heart inexplicably dropped.

No way. Not again!

"Susannah," the voice said, sounding a bit stiff.

I turned, plastering a smile on my face. "Hello, Mrs. De Silva."

And that's when I saw that she wasn't alone. Besides her was that chick I saw Jesse with at the party, looking as gorgeous as ever with her dark hair, tanned skin and hazel eyes. What was her name again? Oh yeah. Theresa.

"I don't think you've both met. This is Theresa, a daughter of my friend. Theresa, this is Susannah," Jesse's mom said pleasantly.

Huh. Nice how she described Theresa as 'a daughter of my friend' and me with just 'Susannah'. It would probably give her a heart attack to say 'this is Susannah, my son's ex-girlfriend.'

"Hi," I said to Theresa, still with that smile on my face. She said hello and we shook hands. She seemed pleasant enough, but it still made me feel irritated that she's trying to sidle her way into Jesse's family by sucking up to his mom. And it looked like Mrs. De Silva was buying it.

"We were just shopping for some groceries…my daughters are all busy with their school and work, I'm very lucky to have Theresa here to help me," she continued in that pleasant-but-annoying tone.

Theresa had the grace to look embarrassed and said with a little accent on her perfect English, "It is nothing, I'm happy to help." She smiled at me.

Puh-lease. You're happy to help scrub her toilet too, if it makes you closer to Jesse, who is by the way, MY guy!

Okay, I was being mean. I shouldn't be mean. Who cares if Theresa wanted to be close with his mom, all I needed to know was that I was the one Jesse loves. And nothing can change that.

Right?

"I'm just buying groceries too," I managed to reply in an almost equally pleasant tone. My face was hurting from smiling fakely too much.

"Well. I think we'll just go on our way now. Nice meeting you again, Susannah," Jesse's mom smiled and went on her way. Theresa followed like a nice puppy dog.

Ugh. I rolled my eyes and went back to looking at the cheese. I didn't know why that made me feel so bad, but I guess it just made me realize how unfit I was to be with his family. His mom even has a choice girlfriend for him and everything, no wonder I was worthless to them.

I had moved on to the vegetable section when I felt someone standing behind me. I turned around and saw her. Theresa.

"Um, hi?" I said, a little uncertain. "Did you want something?"

She smiled slowly, and it was then I realized that her good-girl thing with Mrs. De Silva was just an act. I knew it! She IS a bad person.

"Yes, Susannah. I do want something from you." She was staring daggers at me now, grinning that unnerving smile.

This was making me kinda nervous. I mean, I know kickboxing, but her stiletto heels looked lethal.

"You do?" I echoed her sentence.

"Yes, I do. I think you know what I'm talking about, Susannah. Or should I call you Suze? I think you prefer to be called that, don't you?" she continued.

Okay, this was freaking me out. Is she some psycho-killer? I was suddenly aware that both of us were the only people in the veggie section. Talk about a tense horror movie moment.

"Look, I seriously don't know what you're talking about, Theresa. Or do you want me to call you Terry, do you prefer that?" I couldn't keep the mocking tone out of my voice.

She stopped smiling, and took a few steps towards me. I instinctively stepped back a few steps, but without taking my eyes away from her. I didn't want her to think I was scared or anything, I just didn't want to stand anywhere near her.

"I'm talking about Jesse, Suze. Jesse. The man I know that you supposedly love. The man I know that you're currently seeing behind his parents' back!" she hissed at me.

I froze, feeling the blood drained from my face. Suddenly the coolness of the store was too much, and everything felt COLD. I could feel goosebumps on my arms and I had to tell myself not to shiver.

She couldn't know. How could she KNOW?

"I don't know what you're talking about. Jesse and I broke up a long time ago," I said, shaking my head, trying to cover my shaking voice.

"You two broke up…" she repeated, sounding like she didn't believe me at all. "And you two made up again, didn't you?"

Oh no…she must have seen us together at the party! DAMMIT.

Still, I didn't know why but I felt like I should continue denying. If I admitted it, there's no telling what she would do, who she would tell…

"No, we didn't," I lied fervently.

"Please, no games, Suze. He went back early from the party saying he had an emergency at the hospital, but I know that you were one of the guests at the party. Don't tell me that him leaving early wasn't connected with you being there!" she spat.

Oh, so she doesn't know for sure. She was just guessing. Well, I wasn't going to give in to her. She must be MAD, thinking that I would.

"You're right, I was at the party. But I went there to accompany my friend. I didn't see him! You're wasting your time asking me all this," I told her, keeping my voice calm.

Terry (it's going to be my name for her from now on) crossed her arms and stood there, looking like a model in her chiffon blouse and skirt. Wait, she is a model. God. That made me hate her even more, her looking like that and can have any guy in the world, yet she still wanted to go after Jesse. My Jesse.

She still looked like she didn't believe me. "So are you telling me that the other times when he said he was busy with work even though he wasn't at the hospital, he wasn't actually with you?"

I stared at her, wishing I could punch her pretty little nose. "Yes. That's what I'm telling you."

"You're lying. I know you two are seeing each other. If you think I'm going to let you come in and take him away from me, you're wrong. I was there first, I should be the one with him!" she said resentfully, pointing her manicured finger at me.

Obsessed, much? I was about to reply when she changed her tone and smirked. "Besides, his family loves me, as I'm sure you've seen. I cannot say the same for you, can I?"

My hand itched to lay a big one on her, just to wipe that smirk off her face. I couldn't believe her audacity! If we were laying claims, I think it was safe to say that I was there first, like fifteen YEARS ago. Was she there then? NO. Bitch.

I took a deep breath and tried to calm myself down. There wasn't going to be any good coming out of fighting with her, if I wanted her to believe that I was no longer with Jesse.

"If you think I'm lying, then I suggest you go and ask him yourself. I'm sure he would say the same thing. In the meantime, I have some shopping to do," I said and started to walk away.

"Your innocent act is not going to fool me, Suze. I know that you're lying, and if I ever found out about you and him, I'll be sure that his father will be the first to know," she called out.

I whipped around, feeling my blood boil. Threatening me? Who the HELL does she think she is? "If you think that I'm such a liar, why don't you go ahead and prove it, Miss Know-It-All?"

Instead of looking insulted, she smiled; looking satisfied that she had managed to get a rise out of me. "Oh, don't worry, Suze, I will. I will."

I stared at her a few moments before turning around and walking away from her, clenching my fist, feeling my heart pounding in my chest. Ultimate Bitch Queen! Going around and threatening people, GOD. I wanted to slap her so badly.

But I was glad that I didn't, that I managed to keep my cool. Well, until the end, at least, but that couldn't be helped. The way she was acting, anyone would lose their cool. It made me wonder how naïve Jesse's mom could be, for believing that Terry was so nice. So nice, my butt.

I stopped at the drink section and took a few breaths. Okay. So she doesn't know for sure. Which meant that Jesse and I was safe. But she also said that she would find a way to prove that I was lying, which meant that maybe we weren't so safe. Maybe we should lay low for a while…give her time to forget about it.

My other idea would be to let Jesse take her out in order to erase any suspicions, but that will happen over my dead body. It wasn't a sacrifice that I was willing to make, hell no.

I kept telling myself that I was the one with the upper hand, that she was the one who knew nothing. But as I recall back her words about Jesse's family, why did I feel like the one who was losing?